ELCA Women Hear Plea to Stop Sex Industry

ST. LOUIS (ELCA) "This is what's happening in America, you can't get away from it," Heidi Somerset told participants at the Fourth Triennial Convention of the Women of the ELCA. In her workshop titled "It's NOT Pretty Woman," Somerset discussed the realities of prostitution, how it damages women and ways to work to stop the sex industry.
The convention is meeting here July 8-11 at the America's Center. The organization's three-year theme, "Live God's Justice," is unveiled at the convention amid Bible study, keynote addresses, workshops, business sessions and elections.
"Prostitution is sex for money," said Somerset. It's also sex for food, shelter, love or attention, she said. Somerset said the image of a prostitute only working the street corner is incomplete. Prostitution happens in bars, casinos and "strip clubs," and is often advertised as "escort services," she said.
Somerset speaks from experience; she became a prostitute in college after getting involved in partying and drinking. Although she came from a two-parent, rural household and was an honor student, Somerset said she was still vulnerable because of her naivete.
"I was date raped and lost my virginity. I was saving myself for marriage; what would I give to my husband?" she said during her workshop. Somerset said she started drinking more to bury the shame and pain from the rape.
She was lured into becoming a stripper by a new boyfriend, whom she eventually learned was a pimp. They married and they had two sons. Somerset worked for an escort service for 10 years. She eventually left her husband and went back to college.
Prostitution says that "women are merely objects for sexual gratification," Somerset said. She said pornography is the "doorway to the world of prostitution. It trains our young boys how to think about women and how to think about sex," she said.
The average age that girls enter into prostitution is 14, Somerset said. Many are from families with a history of abuse, incest or addiction, but just as many are lured into thinking they are joining a modeling or talent agency, she said.
Somerset called on the church to take action against the sex industry.
"We need to do something in the church," Somerset said. She told of an experience she had while trying to escape prostitution. She went to a church to talk to a counselor, confessing that she was a prostitute, using drugs and was being beaten by her husband. The counselor promised to pray for her.
"We need to do more than pray," Somerset said. "My call is to the church. I'm not going to let the pornographers and pimps run our country. We need to help our kids. As a church, we need to lead."
Somerset speaks out against prostitution through the Alliance for Speaking Truths on Prostitution (A-STOP). Founded in 1990 by the Rev. Al S. Erickson, an ELCA pastor, the organization works to prevent commercial sexual exploitation. A-STOP is based in Minneapolis and funds much of its programming through a matching grant from Aid Associations for Lutherans, a fraternal benefits society based in Appleton, Wis. Erickson is director for A-STOP.
The Women of the ELCA's Southwestern Minnesota Synod, one of the ELCA's 65 synods, has worked closely with A-STOP to help raise funds and encourage use of A-STOP programs and speakers.
A-STOP developed a curriculum for junior high youth to teach them to be wise and avoid risks that might lead to sexual exploitation. "Wise As Serpents" is being used or evaluated in nearly 160 congregations. A-STOP also produces "The STOPlight," a newsletter issued three times per year.
People are not adequately informed about the prevalence and damage of the sex industry, Erickson said.
"We're cutting a new groove here," he said. "This is an issue for today's kids."
"We've got to tell women this is a problem," said Connie Feig, Raymond, Minn., former board member of the Southwestern Minnesota Synod's women's organization. Feig was on the organization's executive board when it joined forces with A-STOP.
"The way it is fought is by one person taking a stand. One person makes a difference. As Lutheran women, we are responsible to be that 'one person' who makes a difference," said Feig.

For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or NEWS@ELCA.ORG
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